Pedotransfer functions in Earth system science: challenges and perspectives
The paper was a preparation for our Workshop in New Orleans, where we discussed the challenges and defined the perspectives of ISMC work in this domain.
ISMC pre-AGU workshop PTFs Challenges and Perspectives, New Orleans December 10, 2017.
You can look at the presentations of the workshop here
6 actions to continue this activity:
Role of structure
There is a need for standard metrics for the structure; we can join/reinforce and promote the activity of UFZ (Hans-Jörg Vogel) providing service for soil structure imaging (Xray); based on 3D CT-images, they have computing power to analyze the provided images; this way they generate a library of soil structure data, plus metadata. Protocols for measures of pore connectivity etc. will also be provided.
The research questions under this activity: How to use soil structure to quantify soil functions? With PTF applications, linked to Ksat (best measurement to effect of structure), question is how to scale. Correlation with climate, texture, vegetation,… Globally small research community. We (ISMC) will reach out to link them and try reinforcing the global library (UFZ initiative). And then make a project group for analyzing/perspectives.
Infiltration processes, from point to gridscale and upscaling
Everybody who wants to join in infiltration papers (either data paper by bringing in data, or analysis paper to LSM ‘rules’ see information on dedicated Web pages) is still welcome to contact the activity leads.
GLASS panel meeting first days of May will use output of current SOILWAT exercises. And this action will go further in contact with GEWEX; there will be sessions at the ISMC Wageningen conference to further this initiative!
Ksat in models: questions for measures and values
Methods used around the world for hydraulic properties; how is water content of soils measured; Michael Young and Attila Nemes started initiative to collate methods of saturated hydraulic content measurement. Crucial because Ksat is scaling measure for all the LSM models.
We (ISMC) will do a survey (questionnaire), to have information of saturation of soils in measurements of processes infiltration etc. link to standard method used and back off and see where water content comes in in data. The EU-HYDI dataset will be analysed for the methods used to derive the Ksat data.
In line with this action; the question of scaling MVG for unsaturated water conductivity will be treated, how is this done in LSMs? At the GEWEX meeting in Canada; Anne Verhoef/Lutz Weihermüller, responsible for this action, can make that point.
Biotic, biogeochemical processes PTFs, Q10,…
We are little representative in this field for now; reach out to these communities; action to be driven by ISMC coordination office. There are opportunities, we are in contact with permafrost research community, where some initiatives can be furthered, see also action 6.
Thermal data information; thermal conductivity
Thermal properties informations: here same as for infiltration and soil structure, the construction of a global database can be organized by ISMC. Yijian Zeng, Anne Verhoef and Kris Van Looy gather information; all soil thermal properties and metadata such as soil types, textural properties. We expand upon Campbell’s work in 80’s; need for more global information.
Soil freezing; how to enter soil freezing in LSM
Showing data and ‘models’ to LSM GEWEX group for freezing soils, where current LSMs fail. Dani Or and Umakant Mishra, Yijian Zeng gather model information on freezing soil processes, e.g., based on measurements Tibetan plateau. DOE Arctic/advancedTerrestrialSimulator, simulation permafrost soils; algoritms for land surface models, Scott Painter gathers the information present. Ambition is getting first overview of data/model results to present to GEWEX in May or at ISMC Wageningen conference 5-7 November.